33 Countries of Origin’ Profiles

ROMANIA Produced by the University of Seville (Universitad de Sevilla) 5 Although rates of human trafficking are not high, an estimated 5.4 per 100 000 people in Romania were registered as victims of human trafficking between 2010 and 2012. 20 Romania criminalises different forms of violence but does not include violence against women law. The law on preventing and combating violence in family in Romania (Law No. 217/2003) was amended in 2012 to provide for restraining orders: the new law includes verbal violence, psychological violence, physical violence, sexual violence, economic violence, and social violence 21 Rape is a crime in Romania, including rape within marriage 22 . In addition, as of 1 February 2014, the Romanian penal code criminalised rape and sexual harassment. Romania has no specific law outlawing female genital mutilation (FGM) and general criminal law includes no provision for crimes committed outside Romania. However, Romania has granted asylum in a number of cases based on fear of FGM 23 . The five sexual assault services in Romania are all run by NGOs and are part of the Breaking the Silence on Sexual Violence network. These services provide information, psychological counselling and legal assistance. For those experiencing domestic violence, Romania has 73 shelters with 828 beds and a national helpline for victims of family violence that is free of charge and available 24 hours, which provides advice and referral 24 Romania signed the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention) on 27 June 2014 and ratified it on 23 May 2016 25 20 Eurostat (2015). Trafficking in human beings , Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, p. 23. 21 European Institute for Gender Equality (2016) Combating violence against women: Romania . Eige’s publicarions, Lithuania, p.2 22 European Women’s L obby (2013). EWL barometer on rape in the EU 2013 , p. 58. 23 European Institute for Gender Equality (2013). Female genital mutilation in the European Union and Croatia — Report . 24 WAVE (2015). Report on the Role of Specialist Women’s Support Services in Europe , p. 46 25 Council of Europe (2011). Chart of signatures and ratifications of Treaty 210.